Device for priming internal-combustion motors.



W. J. POTTER. DEVICE FOR PRIMING INTERNAL COMBUSTION M omas.

APPLICATI'ON FILED APR. 5, I 9l5- t Patented Sept. 11, 191?.

' WILLIAM J. POTTER, OF WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR PRIMING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION MOTORS.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented le/pt. it, Hit. ii.

Application filed April 5, 1915. Serial No. 19,105.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. Po'rrnn, citizen of the United States, and resident of Weston, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Priming Internal Combustion Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion motors, and more particularly to the type commonly employed in motor vehicles and motor boats, and is intended to provide simple, convenient and eflicient means for aiding in the easy starting of the motor by providing suitable connections by enriching the combustible mixture before it enters the cylinders of the motor. is

To this end the invention comprises essentially a by-pass connection between the gaso lene or other liquid fuel reservoir having connection with the in-take manifold which. conducts the mixture of air and gas from the carburetor to the engine. Jr feature of the invention consists in such arrangement of the connection that it can be controlled readily from the operators seat. The principle is applicable to motors that are started by hand or by self starting devices.

In the accompanying drawings 1 ha vc illustrated the preferred form of embodying the principles of this invention, in which drawings i V Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the motor in outline with the proper connections and control for effecting the purposes of the invention.

Fi 2 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the controlling element by which the priming. is effected.

Fig. 3 is'a side elevation taken at right angles to the plane'of Fig. 2.

As is well-known to users of motor cars, it frequently happens that owing to low tem-- perature or other causes involving inadequate vaporization of the liquid fuel, difficulty is experienced in starting the motor in normal operation, whether it be turned over by hand or by self startingdevices. To overcome this difficulty, I have provided conveniently controlled means for enriching the explosive mixture by leading a supplemental supply pipe from the fuel reservoir or tank to the in-take pipe so located as to be within reach of the operators seat.

The motor a is of any suitable type providedwith the in-take pipes a which are supplied by the in-take manifold a with the carbureted mixture formed in the carbureter Z). From the gasolene tank 0 is led a by-pass pipe 0 which is connected with the controller, which in this case is in theform of a vacuum cup (Z, illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The liquid flowing through pipe 0 passes through a three-way valw. chamber (Z located below the e-up (Z, which valve chamber has a vertical branchzt and a horizontal branch (1", the latter being connected with the intake manifold of the motor by the pipe 0 in order to conduct the gasolene from the cup (Z to said in-takc. The vacuum cup (Z may be of-any suitable type and is shown here as comprising a cylindrical cup of glass or other material provided with an airtight fitting cover (i containing a central threaded pipe d which connectswith a screwthreaded nipple d in the bottom of said cup, this connection serving to screw the cover tightly to its seat.

An aperture (Z aflords communication between the branch (F and the interior of the cup. The cover is provided with 'an ordinary stop-cock CZS which is normally closed, and which is openedonly for the purpose of priming the cup in the first instance.

In thevalve chamber d is mounted the three-way valve plug (Z operated by the lever (Z The device is, ofcourse, normally inoperative since it is needed only when starting the motor under unfavorable conditions. In its normal position the valve plug stands so as to open communication between the supply pipe 0 and the interior of the cup (Z while cutting off the branch pipe 0 In this position it maintains a supply of gasolene in the cup (Z ready for use when needed i for priming the motor.

, ll hen the driver wishes to prime the mo tor, he turns the handle to the position indicated in Fig. 2-s0 as to cut of communication between the liquid supply pipe '0 and the cup (Z and establish an outlet communication between the cup (Z and the pipe 0 leading to the motor iii-take. The partial vacuum created by the downward movement of the pistons serves to draw out of the cup through the aperture (Z the sup ply of gasolene which enriches the starting mixture. As soon as the normal operation of the engine is established, the valve (Z10 is turned back to normal position to renew the supply 'of gasolene and out it off from the engine. The gasolene will flow into the the confined air would prevent the receptacle from filling automatically from the main fuel supply tank. Hence I have provided a vent passage with a stop cock (is which may be opened to allow the liquid under pressure from the supply tank to how into the priming cup. .When filled to the desired level the valve (Z is closed and thereafter the operation is automatic. The cup thus filled is ready for use by simply turning the three-way cock (Z to shut'ofi the supply pipe 0 and to open the outletpipe 0 leading to the intake manifold so that the suction created in the cylinders by turning over or starting the motor draws the liquid priming fuel through the passage 0 into the motor intake. When the motor has been started the three-way cock cZ is turned back to close the outlet passage and establish connection between the main gasolene supply tank and the interior of the priming cup. The more or less complete exhaustion of the contents of the priming cup has created a low pressure or partial vacuum in the priming cup which permits and even assists the automatic re-filling of the priming cup with liquid fuel from the main supply tank. This upper valved passage (Z may also serve as a direct priming passage through which volatile spirits may be poured directly into the cup if preferred. It will be noticed that the central pipe (Z as shown in the drawings has an opening d for the in-flow and out-flow of the liquid near the bottom of the cup and also an opening (Z communicating with the upper part of the cup to allow the partial exhaustion of the air in the cup to assist in producing a partial vacuum. As the cup acts for refilling purposes partly on the vacuum prin ciple as already explained, it has been referred to as a vacuum cup.

It will be noticed that the controller mechanism, including the cup and valve is placed on the dash e of the car so as to be conveniently accessible, although obviously it may be placed elsewhere if desired.

jply pipe leading thereto from the gasolene tank, an outlet pipe for leading liquid fluid from said cup to the intake of the motor,

both inlet and outlet pipes having communication with the interior of said cup through a commonpassage, and a valve located in, said passage to open communication through either of said pipes ,while simul-v taneously closing communication through the other pipe, substantially as described.

2. A priming device for a gasolene motor embracing a vacuum cup for con'taining the liquid-fuel, a fuel inlet and outlet pipe located in the bottom of said cup, said pipe having two branches, one of which admits fuel into the cup from its source of supply, the other branch leading to the motor in take pipe, and a valve operable by the driver for simultaneously closing one branch and opening the other, substantially as described. r y v V 3. The combination with a gasolene tank having communication with thecarbureter and with the in-take pipe of a motor, a bypassage leading from. said tank to the in take pipe of the motor; beyond the carbureter, an intermediate gasolene-containing vacuum cup connected with said; by-passage through a threeway valve chamber, and a valve located in said valve chamberto open communication at the willof the operator between the vacuum cup and either the mo-' tor in-take pipe or the gasolene tank, sub stantially as described.

4. The combination with a main gasolene tank and a motor including an intake manifold of a pressure-tight cup or receptacle, an interior pipe therein provided with an aperture near its lower end and an aperture near its upper end, an inlet and outlet. pipe in communication therewith, two branches in connection with said pipe one leading to the motor intake manifold and the other communicating with the main gasolene tank and a three-way valve controlling said Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, Ii addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

